Illness associated with drift of chloropicrin soil fumigant into a residential area--Kern County, California, 2003.

Chloropicrin is the fourth most commonly used soil fumigant in California. Exposure to chloropicrin causes eye and respiratory tract irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea. This report describes an investigation by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) and the Kern County Agriculture Commissioner (KCAC) into illnesses associated with the offsite drift of chloropicrin in Kern County. A total of 165 persons experienced symptoms consistent with chloropicrin exposure. The findings underscore health risks associated with fumigants and the usefulness of procedures adopted in California to ensure both prompt identification of exposure events and timely notification of the affected public.